Correct Answer :   Tamil Nadu

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Tamil Nadu government is set to implement 'Project Dolphin' in order to conserve the highly endangered mammal at the cost of Rs 812.6 lakhs during 2023-2024.

Making the announcement on social media, IAS Supriya Sahu said that the government aims to undertake several activities including Dolphin number estimation, protection, surveillance and awareness enhancement through the project.

Taking to X, IAS Supriya Sahu, TN Addl Chief Secretary Environment Climate Change & Forests said, "Tamil Nadu to implement Project Dolphin to conserve the highly endangered marine mammal under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat programme of @moefcc.

More than four types of dolphin species are found in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. The Project will be implemented at a cost of Rs 812.6 lakhs during the year 2023-2024."

Several activities including Dolphin number estimation, protection, surveillance and awareness enhancement will be undertaken. A government order has been issued in this regard, she said..

Tamil Nadu to implement Project Dolphin to conserve the highly endangered marine mammal under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat programme of @moefcc. More than four types of dolphin species are found in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve.The Project will be… pic.twitter.com/ajQ6EQi7jl

— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) November 7, 2023

Source : ABP Live

Correct Answer :   Amit Shah

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Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday (8th Nov 2023) launched the 'Bharat Organics' brand of the newly created National Cooperative Organics Ltd (NCOL) and asserted that it will emerge as the most "trusted" brand in India and abroad.

Shah also launched the NCOL's logo, website and brochure. He gave away NCOL membership certificates to five cooperative societies.

Addressing the national symposium on promotion of organic products through cooperatives here, Shah said, "NCOL is a platform for organic growers. Today(8th Nov 2023), we are launching six products under the 'Bharat Organics' brand and 20 products by December."

The six organic products -- tur dal, chana dal, sugar, rajma, basmati rice, and Sonamasoori rice -- will be sold through Mother Dairy's Safal outlets and online platforms, he said and added a network of retail outlets is being created across the country.

Initially, NCOL will sell the organic products in India and later will market in other countries, he added.

Shah further said, about 50 per cent of profits from sale of organic products through NCOL will be transferred directly to member farmers.

The Minister of State for Cooperation B L Verma, Cooperation Secretary Gnanesh Kumar, Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal, NDDB chairman and NCOL chief Minesh C Shah, and FSSAI CEO G Kamala Vardhana Roa were present at the event.

Gujarat-headquartered NCOL, with National Dairy Development Board being the chief promoter, has been established under the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.

The Minister said NCOL aims to cover the entire supply chain of organic products through cooperative networks by undertaking various activities like aggregation, certification, production, testing, procurement, storage, processing, branding, packaging, labeling, marketing, etc for the ultimate benefit of farmer members.

Organic agriculture is practiced in 190 countries on 749 lakh hectares of land and India ranks 4th globally in organic agricultural land and first in number of producers as per 2020 data.

India has 27 lakh hectares of land under certified organic certification, including cultivable and wild harvest areas. The country produced 29 lakh tonnes of certified organic products in 2022-23, as per the official data..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   Mundra Port

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Mundra Port, the flagship of APSEZ, has set another record by handling 16.1 MMT of cargo in October, the highest-ever volume by any port in India. It is the largest port in the country with 102 MMT of cargo handled on year to date (YTD) basis, a good 9% Y-o-Y growth. The port crossed the 100 MMT mark in 210 days, surpassing the record of 231 days last year (2022).

Mundra witnessed double-digit growth on a Y-o-Y basis for containers (+10%) and liquids and gas (+14%). It achieved another milestone of handling 4.2 million TEUs of containers in just 203 days, a feat achieved in 225 days in the previous financial year. It added new cargo types such as Hydrolysis Pi Gas (HPG) to its portfolio. On YTD basis, it docked over 2,480 ships and serviced over 11,500 rakes.

Due to its strategic location, Mundra offers some of the best facilities. Given its capability to maintain deep draft, it is well-equipped to handle large vessels. In July’23, it berthed one of the largest ships ever – MV MSC Hamburg, 399 m long and 54 m wide, with a carrying capacity of 15,908 TEUs and a current reported draught of 12 m. In 2021, it berthed the 13,892 TEU APL Raffles, the largest container vessel to call at any Indian port. The Singapore-registered vessel is 397.88 m long and 51 m broad.

Mudra Port enjoys a strong connectivity with the hinterland, particularly to the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). All the major rail lines and ICDs connecting Mundra port are now capable of handling double stack container trains. Over the past years, the port has experienced a material improvement in the double stack co-efficient. During the period under consideration, Mundra received the first train from Garhi Harsaru ICD on the newly electrified route as also double-stack services from ICD Dadri through WDFC. These ICDs are in addition to the already existing ICD Patli.

Given the cargo volume growth rate, Mundra Port is targeting 200 MMT in FY25. With 90% of India’s trade by volume conducted via the maritime route, its improved infrastructure means better logistics performance and higher seaborne trade and economic growth, which is key to India becoming a $5 trillion economy..

Source : Adani Ports

Correct Answer :   Dr Jitendra Singh

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Union Minister of State for Science & Technology "Dr Jitendra Singh" inaugurated the 'Children Science Festival' organized by CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) in Jammu on Monday (6th Nov 2023).

Speaking on occasion, Dr Singh narrated how the Jigyasa programme is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a new India and the social responsibility of scientific community and institutions. Jigyasa is a student-scientist connect programme implemented by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in collaboration with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS).

The minister applauded the efforts of CSIR-IIIM for organizing such outreach activities for students from schools and colleges. He said that such activities help increase scientific aptitude and inculcates the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship in young minds. He also distributed prizes to the winners of various competitions organized during the Children Science Festival.

Dr Singh said India’s first virtual science lab for children under CSIR Jigyasa programme was launched, which built a strong connect between students and scientists with scientists across the country.

Further, the main objective of establishing the virtual lab was to provide quality research exposure and innovative pedagogy for school students based on an online interactive medium. He said the new facility will immensely benefit students from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and government schools of various states boards and will help in catching them young..

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   Lulu Hypermarket

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Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has signed an MoU with Lulu Hypermarket to promote the export of Indian agricultural products.

APEDA's prescribed products will be added to the Lulu Hyper Market retail chain.

APEDA is an Indian apex export trade promotion active government body. It was established in 1986..

Correct Answer :   Hague

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The World Local Production Forum will be organized in The Hague, Netherlands.

* It is being organized from 6 to 8 November 2023.

* This is the second edition of the World Local Production Forum.

* Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Bhagwant Khuba is representing India in this forum.

* The World Local Production Forum was established at the request of the World Health Organization.

* Its aim is to make medicines and other medical technology more widely available to the entire world.

* The first World Local Production Forum was held in June, 2021.

Correct Answer :   Sunil Narine

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Mystery spinner Sunil Narine on Sunday (5 November 2023) announced his retirement from international cricket. The 35-year-old played 6 Tests, 65 ODIs and 51 T20Is and was part of the T20 World Cup-winning West Indies side in 2012.

The T20 globetrotter last played for the senior national team in 2019 in T20I cricket. His last Test was in 2013 while he had not played an ODI after 2016.

Sunil Narine also announced he would retiring from domestic 50-over competition at the end of the ongoing Super 50 Cup in which he is representing Trinidad and Tobago.

Narine, who has been a globetrotter in T20 cricket in the recent past, added that he would continue playing the shorter formats of the game in franchise-based leagues across the globe.

Narine's record for the West Indies in international cricket is impressive. He took 92 wickets in 65 ODI matches and 48 wickets in 47 T20 International matches. In addition, he played six Test matches, taking 21 wickets with best figures of 6-91. These statistics underscore Narine's significant impact on the West Indies team and his crucial role in their successes over the years.

However, Narine's career was not without controversy. His bowling action was reported multiple times. Notably, he had missed West Indies's victorious campaign in T20 World Cup in 2016 and the 2015 World Cup as he was working on remodeling his bowling action, which was first reported in the Champions League T20 in 2014..

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   Chile

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Chile has become the 95th member of the International Solar Alliance ISA.

Chile handed over the Instrument of ISA ratification during the meeting of Ambassador Juan Angulo of Chile with Joint Secretary (Economic Diplomacy) in Ministry of External Affairs Abhishek Singh in New Delhi on 6th Nov 2023..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   7th November

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National Cancer Awareness Day in India is celebrated on November 7th every year in India to spread awareness around symptoms, severity and treatment of different kinds of cancer.

Theme 2023 : The theme of National Cancer Awareness Day 2023 is Close the care gap.


History of National Cancer Awareness Day in India :

National Cancer Awareness Day was kickstarted by Dr Harsh Vardhan, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare in India in September 2014. A committee was formed and November 7 was designated as the day for annual observance aiming to inform and educate masses about cancer, its treatment, and how early action can drastically improve survival rates.

Significance of National Cancer Awareness Day :

More than 50% of cancer cases are in advanced stages when detected which can greatly affect chances of survival. However, early detection can help in full recovery. Spotting the cancer or pre-cancerous changes early with the help of various screening methods will allow time for efforts that can help slow down or prevent cancer development..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   IIT Madras

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IIT Madras has become the first Indian Institute of Technology to establish an international campus on the picturesque Zanzibar Island in East Africa.

Inaugurated by the President of Zanzibar, Hussein Ali Mwinyi, this historic initiative signifies a brighter educational future, facilitated by a memorandum of understanding between India and Tanzania, ushering in a new era of global education and cooperation.


A Historical Milestone :

* The establishment of the IIT Madras Zanzibar Campus represents a remarkable achievement for both India and Tanzania.
* This endeavor reflects the Indian government’s commitment to spreading the excellence of India’s education system to international arenas.
* While the initial campus is located in the Bweleo district, approximately 15 kilometers south of Zanzibar Town, there are plans for a permanent campus to be jointly developed by the Government of Zanzibar and the Government of India.


Academic Offerings :

* To kickstart its operations, the IIT Madras Zanzibar Campus is offering Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Technology (MTech) programs, with a focus on Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
* These programs are designed to meet the growing demand for skills in data-driven technologies and are expected to pave the way for more academic offerings in the near future.
* Notably, the first batch of students admitted to IITM Zanzibar comprises individuals from diverse backgrounds, including Zanzibar, mainland Tanzania, Nepal, and India, with a commendable 40 percent representation of women.

State-of-the-Art Facilities :

* The IIT Madras Zanzibar Campus boasts modern and comprehensive facilities to cater to the needs of its students. Accommodation in well-equipped dormitories is available, ensuring a comfortable stay.
* The campus features fully-furnished offices, state-of-the-art classrooms, and an impressive auditorium to facilitate a conducive learning environment.
* Dining facilities, a dispensary, and planned sports facilities ensure that students have access to a holistic campus experience.


Open to All Nationalities :

* The courses offered at IITM Zanzibar are open to students of all nationalities, including Indians. This openness encourages a diverse learning environment that fosters global perspectives and cross-cultural collaboration.
* Apart from the comprehensive curriculum in Data Science and AI, students can explore a range of opportunities during their studies.
* These opportunities include study abroad and semester exchange programs with IIT Madras’ partner institutions in the UK, Australia, and other countries, internships with relevant companies, and the possibility to fulfill some course requirements at the IIT Madras campus in Chennai, India.


Commencement of Classes :

* The IIT Madras Zanzibar Campus opened its doors for classes during the academic year 2023-24, with the first semester commencing in October 2023.
* The student body comprises individuals from various countries, representing the global spirit of education.
* A total of 45 students have been admitted to pursue a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Data Science and AI, as well as a two-year Master of Technology degree in the same field.